HP Smart App: How to Print, Scan, and Manage Your HP Printer
6th Jan 2025
Simon Cross
Wondering whether the HP Smart app is worth the extra storage it will take up on your device? It seems like there’s an app for everything these days.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at what the HP Smart App can do, how to set it up, and why it’s worth keeping on your devices. Let’s dive in and discover how this handy app can make your printing and scanning tasks smoother and smarter!
What is the HP Smart App?
HP Smart is a handy little app that puts all the power of your HP printer right at your fingertips. It allows you to print and scan directly from your mobile phone or other device. It also offers features like remote ink monitoring, live chat support and advanced setting configuration for your printer.
You can download it on just about any device you use daily: Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. So, no matter if you’re on your phone, tablet, or computer, the HP Smart App has got you covered.
Setting Up the HP Smart App
Getting started with the HP Smart App should be super easy, so let's go through it step by step.
Step 1: Download the App
First things first: download the HP Smart App from your device’s app store (whether it’s the Apple App Store, Google Play, or Microsoft Store). Once it’s downloaded, open it up and you’re on your way.
Step 2: Connect Your Printer
Next, just follow the in-app prompts. If you’re setting up your printer for the first time, you’ll likely have to connect the printer to the Wi-Fi and do a few other set-up steps.
Step 3: Log In or Create an HP Account
Okay, so this step is actually optional. Some people only use the HP Smart App for their initial printer set up, which you don’t need an account for.
But, if you want to access the app features like mobile faxing, mobile printing and remote ink monitoring, you’ll need to create an account with your email. So, make sure to log in with your HP account (or create one if you don’t have it yet).
Troubleshooting common setup issues
Sometimes, tech has its quirks. If you hit a snag, don’t worry. It’s usually an easy fix:
- Printer not found? Double-check your Wi-Fi connection or ensure the USB cable is securely plugged in.
- App not connecting? Restart your device and the printer, then try again.
- Wi-Fi setup acting up? Make sure your printer and device are on the same network.
If you’re still stuck, the app has a built-in help section, or you can head to the HP support page for extra guidance. You’ve got this!
Printing with the HP Smart App
One of the things I really like about the HP Smart App is that it does make printing from your phone really easy. It connects with every app that has print support, so it’s pretty seamlessly integrated. For example, you can print directly from apps like Google Drive or Dropbox. Very handy.
You can also print photos directly from your smartphone’s photos app, which I personally really like as a feature. If you don’t feel like emailing pics to yourself to get them to your computer, or uploading them to the cloud first. With the HP app, just open the photo, hit “Share,” and select the HP Smart App. It’s that simple!
When printing with the app, you can customise print quality, adjust the printer paper type or size, change the colour settings and select the number of print copies. For an android user, this is a really awesome feature.
But for apple users, even though you do have slightly more print settings in the HP app, the experience is pretty comparable to AirPrint. So in my opinion, if you have a Mac or iPhone, the print feature might not be the biggest draw card of the HP Smart App for you. But maybe some of the other features will convince you this app is worth having.
How to Print Documents and Photos on HP Smart App
Ok, so it’s pretty easy to print using the HP app. Here’s how:
- Hit print: Right on the homepage of the app, select ‘Print document’.
- Pick your file: Whether it’s a document, photo, or even something from your cloud storage, just select it in the app.
- Adjust your settings: Need vibrant colours? Black and white? Specific paper size? You’ve got all the options right there.
- Print away: Once you’re happy with your settings, hit ‘Print,’ and you’re good to go.
As an aside, there’s also an option to print directly from whatever app your file is saved to. Whether you’re viewing it from your browser, Google Drive or an editing app, if the application supports print functions, you’ll be able to select print directly from there just by hitting ‘share.’
Scanning with the HP Smart App
In my experience, scanning with the HP Smart App is really seamless and very handy for quick scans. You can scan directly to your mobile and share from there. One thing I love about it is that you can adjust the settings before and after scanning, while other OEM apps (like Brother) only have setting options before the scan. This can get annoying quickly!
I’d recommend scanning with the HP Smart App for home users who would like to scan a quick photo or document without having to fire up their laptop. It is very convenient once you have the app connected to your printer, which is just a one-time set up.
But in all honesty, in a business setting I’m not convinced the app would be that much better than simple wireless scanning. It might be a bit more streamlined in terms of adjusting settings, but other than that I don’t see heaps of value in it.
Using the App for Scanning
Here’s how to scan with the HP Smart App:
- Set up the scanner: Pop the document into the scanning bed. Open the HP Smart app and select the scan option.
- Choose your settings: Pick your scan quality, file format (PDF, JPEG, etc.), and any other preferences before hitting the scan button.
- Save and share: Once your scan is done, you can save it directly to your device, email it, or upload it to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox.
Managing Your HP Printer with the HP Smart App
The HP Smart app does more than everyday painting and scanning, It also has some features that make managing your printer easier.
Check printing levels
Right on the home screen of the app, users can view their toner or ink levels. I find that customers really like this feature because you don’t have to navigate any menus to find your ink levels, so it’s super easy and convenient.
Ordering ink and managing ink subscriptions
If you use OEM cartridges (HP branded), you can also order more directly on the app, which is handy. Of course, if you prefer to save money and reduce waste with recycled cartridges, this feature won’t be useful for you.
And if you have an Instant Ink subscription, you’re also able to manage it all from the app. Check out our recent blog to find out if an Instant Ink subscription is worth it for you.
Other remote features
Beyond ink management, there are a lot of other things that you’re able to check remotely using the HP Smart app. Let me take you through a few.
- Cover or Tray Alerts: Notifies users if the printer cover or tray is open. That means if you’re printing or scanning and you’re not next to the printer, you can make sure the printer is ready to go before hitting start.
- Paper Jam Notifications: Pinpoints the location of a paper jam, making it easier to resolve quickly.
- Paper Levels: Displays paper availability, which is useful when preparing large print jobs.
- Printer Name, Model, and IP Address: You can check key printer details on the app too. This is especially helpful when ordering toner cartridges or ink cartridges when you’re not right next to the printer to check what model you own.
In my opinion, being able to manage your printer remotely with the app is really handy and I actually find myself checking the ink levels on my phone more often than the printer itself. You just can’t beat that convenience!
Advanced Features of the HP Smart App
The HP Smart App includes a few advanced features that, in my opinion, set it above some of the other OEM apps. Let me explain what they are.
Shortcuts
One of my favourite parts of the HP Smart App is that it’s actually quite customisable, so you can change the interface according to your needs. One of these customisation features is shortcuts, which allow you to turn multiple clicks into just one.
In my opinion, this is the most useful feature of the app feature for business use. For example, if you want scans as a PDF file and saved to Google drive without selecting those options every time, a shortcut can do that for you.
You can also use shortcuts to configure print settings like number of copies, colour/Black & White, double sided. This is great when you print frequently, because adjusting a few settings over and over gets really tedious.
Advanced setting configuration
Another advantage to having the HP Smart app is that you can change settings in your printer that you otherwise don’t have access to - I like to call it the ‘hidden menu.’
To access these settings, tap your printer name at the top of the homepage. Then, navigate to ‘Advanced Settings’ and hit Ok. Here, you’ll be able to adjust all sorts of things.
For example, in this hidden menu you can update your printer's Wi-Fi password to something that's easier for you to remember and potentially more secure - depending on what you choose, of course!
In that same printer section of the app you can also access the Alignment and Maintenance menu, perfect for troubleshooting any print quality issues. I actually discuss this in more detail in my blog about regular printer maintenance, so check that out if you’d like to learn more.
Customer Support with HP Smart
HP Smart App also offers 24/7 customer support directly in the app, which is great if you’re having issues with your printer, want to claim something on the warranty or just have a question about how to use a feature.
Other popular printer companies have a whole separate app for support, which means you’ll have to download something separate and login all over again (not ideal).
Should I get the HP App?
In my opinion, the HP Smart App has some handy features for most users. You will need to download the app anyway to set up the printer, so you may as well keep it after that for easy printing, mobile scanning and quick ink/toner monitoring. It has an easy to use interface and an in-app customer support feature, which I love!
If you’re interested to learn more about HP, I just wrote a blog all about the best HP printer models for small businesses. Go check it out!
Blog Author: Simon Cross is the engaging and knowledgeable voice behind the insightful articles on printers and printer consumables at IJT Direct, an ecommerce store renowned for its comprehensive selection of printers, printer consumables, and hardware. View Simons author page to find out more about him.
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